Mechanical stoker.



Patented Apr. 13, 1909. 3 BlfIEETB-SHEET 2.

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' W. H. STROUSE.

MECHANICAL STOKER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. s, 1908, 91 8,21 7.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO" WASHINCTDN, D. C. I

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WILLIAM H. STROUSE, OF OSKALOOSA, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN AUTOMATICSTOKER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA TERRITORY.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILIJAM H. S'rRoUsn, a citizen of the United.States, residing at Oskaloosa, in the county of Mahaska, State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lllechanicalStokers; and I do hereby declare the followlng to be a full, clear, andexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

The present invention relates to improvements in that type of mechanicalstokers illustrated in Letters-Patent heretofore granted to me Nos.840,722 and 846,723, dated January 8, 1907, and the objects of thepresent invention are to simplify the mechanism, provide for a moreeffective control of the stoking operation and insure a more regular anduniform distribution of the fuel in the fire-box.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction andcombinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be nowdescribed and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation ofstoker cmbodying the present improvements, portions of the frameavork,etc. being broken away to show the underlying mechanism. Fig. 2 is arear elevation partly broken away and with parts in section. Fig. 3 is adetail sectional elevation of the steam chest, its valve, and port-ionof the cylinder. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cylinder with parts ofthe frame in section. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section showing thecushion valve and its operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a section throughthe throttle valve. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the nose or fueldistributing end of the reciprocatory plunger. Fig. 8 is atop plan viewof the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

The stoker of the present invention is, like the stoker of the beforementioned pat ents, particularly adapted for use on steam locomotiveswithout requiring material change in the firebox or openings in thefront wall of the same. The whole stoking apparatus is adapted to bemoved up in front of the usual fuel opening. For convenience in locatingthe same it is preferably mounted Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 1908.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Serial No. 414,087.

on casters or rollers a at the lower ends of adjustable legs A and atthe front end, a plate B is located in position to fit fairly againstthe face of the front wall of the fire-box. On the front of the plate Bthere is located a trough-like projection B, through which the fuel isdischarged into the fire-box, and to normally close the trough andopening formed thereby, there is provided a substantially fiat door C,normally occupying an inclined position, as shown by dotted lines inFig. 1, and supported at the upper end in bearings 0, whereby it may beswung inwardly and upwardly either by the advancing fuel or nose of thereciprocatory plunger or through the instrumentality of mechanism to bepresently described.

A reciprocatory plunger or fuel distributing member D is mounted to movein line with the trough B, reciprocatory motion being imparted to theplunger by a piston connected therewith at d (dotted lines, Fig. 1) andadapted to work in a relatively long cylinder E which extends back inline with the fuel opening and is preferably formed as an integral partof the framework of the stoker, as will be readily understood fromFig. 1. Steam is admitted to opposite ends of the cylinder throughpassages e, e from a steam chest F, the passage e leading to the frontend of the cylinder being preferably of small cross sections as comparedwith the passage a leading to the rear of the cylinder, inasmuch as thereturn stroke of the plunger is slower than the forward stroke, andhence a rapid admission of steam is unnecessary. The steam chest F ispreferably cylindrical, and the valve f located therein is anoscillatory valve adapted to be operated by a valve stem f projecting atone end of the steam chest. Steam is admitted to the steam chest througha pipe connection G leading from an oscillatory throttle valve G, shownin section in Fig. 6, and is supplied to the throttle valve from theboiler or other source through a steam pipe connection G For operatingthe admlssion valve a long trip bar H is pivotally mounted preferablycentrally at one side of the cylinder at the point indicated by h inFig. 1. This trip bar carries at its opposite ends sliding valvereversing boxes or inclines I, and on the rearward extension D of theplunger D, there is mounted an incline or a roller box I), which isadapted to strike and ride the cams or inclines of the valve reversingboxes I as the plunger nears the extremes of its reciprocatory movement,thereby depressing one end or the other of the trip bar. The trip bar isconnected by a rod or link K with the reversing crank K carried by thevalve stem f, the arrangement being such that as the plunger reaches theextreme of its movement in one direction the trip bar is operated toshift the valve and admit steam for rever'sing the movement of theplunger and permit the exhaust to take place from the opposite end ofthe cylinder. As the plunger approaches the other extreme of itsmovement,- the trip bar is operated to again shift the valve, wherebythe automatic reciprocation of the plunger is continued.

In order to provide for an effective normal control of the apparatuswhereby the forward stroke of the plunger may be regulated so as todistribute the fuel either to the front or back of the firebox, andwhereby the speed of the plunger movement may be controlled and theplunger invariably brought to rest in its rearmost position, provisionis made for controlling the positions of the reversing inclines or camboxes I. In connection with the regulation of the position of the outercam box, provision is made for simultaneously regulating the movement ofthe throttle valve and for effecting a mutual control of the admissionvalve to insure a proper operation of the same, whereby the admission ofsteam to the rear or outer end of the cylinder when no forward movementof the plunger is desired, is effectually guarded against. 7

A link L connects the outer cam box I with an arm L of a hand lever Lsaid hand lever being journaled on a shaft Z mounted in downwardextensions E of the frame. A link M connects said arm L of the handlever with a crank arm 9 of the throttle valve G, thus by moving thelever L to the right in Fig. 1, the cam box I will be moved outwardly orrearwardly, and at the same time the throttle valve G will be closed,movement in the opposite direction, of course, opcrating to open thethrottle valve and ad Vance the cam box I into position to be engaged bythe incline or roller box on the plunger. As the throttle is opened moreand more, the cam box is advanced correspondingly so that as the speedof the plun ger increases through the increased admission of steam,operation of the trip bar is made more certain and the piston is notpermitted to operate so closely to the rear end of the cylinder.

The mutual control of the admission valve is effected by means of ayielding or spring pressed tappet N mounted on the link L and adapted tocontact with a radial arm N on the valve stem f. Movement of the link Ltoward the rear of the stoker tends to cause the valve to move intoposition for admitting steam only to the front end of the cylinder, thusassuming that the plunger is to be brought to rest, a movement of thehand lever L toward the right in Fig. 1 will move the cam box Irearwardly, and it will simultaneously move the throttle valve in adirection to close the same, but at the same time will move theadmission valve so as to insure the admission of the last portion of thesteam passing through the throttle valve to the forward end of thecylinder. When it is desired to again inaugurate the movements of theplunger, if the hand lever be moved toward the left in Fig. 1, it willrelieve the admission valve and at the same time that it opens thethrottle valve it will draw the cam box I in under the incline or rollerbox, thereby depressing the rear end of the trip bar to shift theadmission valve into position for admitting steam to the rear end of thecylinder and for opening the front end to exhaust.

The inner or forward cam box I is controlled in its position on the tripbar, by being connected through a link 0 with an arm 0 on the shaft Z,and the shaft Zis provided at its ends with a stroke lever 0 adapted tobe moved manually and to be held in any desired position of adjustmentby cooperation with a segment 0 on the frame.

The range of movement of the forward cam box I is preferably madeconsiderable, inasmuch as it is designed to regulate the forward throwof the plunger, thus a fireman may set the forward cam box so as to givethe plunger a throw most effective for the particular fire box withwhich the stroker is used, or if he finds that more or less fuel isrequired at the front or backof the lire-box he may regulate the strokeso as to distribute the coal in accordance with the requirements.

The steam at the forward end of the cylinder will form a sufficientcushion for the piston and plunger in its forward movement, but in orderto prevent any possibility of the piston ever reaching the cylinder headat the forward end, the steam port of the passage 6 is made ofrelatively small cross section, and consequently if the piston andplunger advance with extreme" rapidity, sufficient steam will betrapped, or its escape will be sufficiently retarded to arrest any overthrow of the piston and plunger and at the same time the forward end ofthe cylinder will clear itself with sufficient rapidity for allpractical purposes. To provide for cushioning the piston and plunger atthe rear end of the stroke, a special cushioning valve is preferablyprovided which is operated by the plunger to admit live steam justbefore the plunger reaches the outer extremity of its movement, suchvalve being shown in detail in Fig. 5.

Live steam is admitted from the throttle valve G through a passage p,which is opened and closed simultaneously with the opening and closingof the passage leading to the steam chest F, and enters the cushionvalve through a passage 7;) from which it is distributed to the top andbottom of a double beat valve P, which controls the entry of such steaminto a passage P leading to the outer end of the cylinder. The valve Pis preferably held to its seat by a spiral spring, although the valvedisk on one side is of the larger diameter and would normally tend tohold the valve closed through the action of the steam itself. The upperend of the valve stem carries, or is connected with a lever Q pivotallymounted on or connected with the frame at q and carrying at its oppositeend a roller 9 with which an incline or cam g on the rear end of theplunger is adapted to contact for opening the valve at the properinstant, as before explained.

For controlling the opening and closing movements of the fuel door C,whereby the closing of the same will be insured when the plunger is atrest and the throttle closed, and whereby the opening of the samewithout concussion as the plunger is caused to operate by the opening ofthe throttle, a connection is preferably rovided between the dooritself, or a crankike portion connected therewith and the throttle leverL In the simple form of apparatus illustrated, the lever L is providedwith a short downwardly extending arm L and from the lower end of thisarm L a connection preferably yielding extends diagonally up to thecounterbalancing arm C on the door. The connection itself is preferablyformed by telescoping sections C -C, which are held in their extendedrelation by an adjustable spiral spring C The movement of the throttlelever in a direction to close the throttle, puts the spring C undercompression and insures the closing of the door, while movement of thethrottle lever in the opposite direction or to open the valve relievesthe compression on the spring, and through the loose connection betweenthe telescoping sections C C the door is opened. The counterweight C forthe door is preferably made sufficiently heavy to materially assist inthe opening movement. When the throttle lever is moved to open thethrottle valve, the door is opened and fuel may be freely injectedwithout contacting with the door, but when the throttle valve is closed,bringing the plunger to rest, the door is automatically closed by thesame movement which closes the valve.

The nose or fuel distributing end of the plunger which, while itconforms generally to the shape of the nose piece of the plunger in myprior patent No. 840,723, is, in the present invention, so shaped as tosecure a more effectual distribution of the fuel to the sides of thefire-box. As in the nose piece of the patent above referred to, the nosepiece of the present invention is provided with fuel supporting ledgesor flanged portions R, and from these flanged portions the surface ofthe nose at each side of the center projection R curves upwardly andoutwardly with a curve of gradually decreasing radius to form thesurfaces R which will give the major forward im etus to the fuel whichis to be distributed through the rear end and side portions of thefire-box. Immediately in rear of the surfaces R the nose piece isprovided with side pockets R preferably having doiiuiwardly andoutwardly inclined walls, terminating near the bottom in. a somewhatsharp outward curvature, whereby the fuel caught in said pockets andpushed into the fire-box will discharge on the inward stroke of theplunger at each side of the nose of the plunger, and be therebydistributed to the sides and corners of the fire-box at each side of thefire door. In the preferred construction these transverse pockets havetheir rear walls at the outer edges curved forward slightly, as at R, inorder to hold the fuel on the forward stroke and discharge same afterthe nose piece has started on its backward movement.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters- Patent, is:

1. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a reciprocatory plungerhaving its forward end formed to project the fuel, the door controllingthe opening through which the fuel is advanced by the plunger and acylinder and piston for moving said plunger, of a valve mechanismcontrolling the admission and exhaust ports of the cylinder, a pivotedtrip bar connected with the admission valve for operating the latter,means intermediate said bar and plunger for moving said trip bar aboutits pivot in opposite directions, a throttle valve, a hand levercontrolling the same, connections intermediate said hand lever andadmission valve, whereby when the throttle is closed the admission valveis moved to prevent the entry of steam at one end of the cylinder andconnection intermediate said hand lever and door for closing the doorwhen the throttle is closed.

2. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination with a reciprocatory plungerhaving its forward end formed to project the fuel, the door controllingthe opening through which the fuel is advanced by the plunger, and acylinder and piston for moving said plunger, of an oscillatory admissionvalve controlling the passage of steam to opposite ends of the cylinder,a pivoted trip bar, cooperating inclined projections on the plunger andtrip bar for oscillating the latter, a connection between the said tripbar and admission valve, a hand lever controlling the relative positionof the inclined projections, a connection intermediate said hand leverand admission valve whereby the admission valve may be moved to preventthe entry of steam at one end of the cylinder when the inclinedprojection is shifted in arresting the movement of the plunger and aconnection intermediate said lever and door to open and close thelatter. I

3. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a reciprocatory plungerhaving a fuel projecting forward end the door controlling the openingthrough which the fuel is advanced by the plunger and a cylinder andpiston for moving the said plunger, of a trip bar, cooperating inclinedprojections on the trip bar and plunger for oscillating the trip bar,admission valve for controlling the supply of steam to opposite ends ofthe cylinder, 2. connection between the trip bar and admission valve, athrottle valve, a hand lever, connections intermediate the said throttlevalve and admission valve and hand lever, connections controlled by saidhand lever for varying the relative positions of the inclinedprojections whereby upon the movement of the hand lever in one directionthe throttle valve may be closed, the admission valve moved to preventthe entry of steam at one end of the cylinder, and the relativepositions of the inclined projections shifted to prevent operativeengagement and a connection intermediate the hand lever and door foropening and closing the latter.

4 In'a mechanical stoker, the combination with a reciprocatory plungerhaving a fuel projecting forward end, a cylinder and piston forreciprocating said plunger, of a valve controllii'ig the admission ofsteam to the cylinder, a hand lever controlling said valve, a door forcontrolling the opening through which the fuel is advanced by theplunger, and a connection between said door and valve controlling leverfor opening and closing the door; substantially as described.

5. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a reciprocatory plungerhaving a fuel projecting nose at its forward end and a cylinder andpiston for moving said plunger, of a valve controlling the admission ofsteam to the cylinder, a door controlling the opening through which thefuel is advanced by the plunger, a hand lever, and connectionsbetweensaid hand lever and valve and between said hand lever and door,whereby the door and valve are simultaneously opened and closed.

6. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a reciprocatory plungerhaving a fuel projecting forward end and a cylinder and piston formoving said plunger, of a valve controlling the admission of steam tothe cylinder, a door controlling the opening through which the fuel isadvanced by the plunger, a hand lever, a yielding connection betweensaid hand lever and door, and a connection between said hand lever andvalve whereby the door and valve are opened and closed simultaneously;substantially as described.

7. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a reciprocatory plungerhaving a fuel projecting forward end and a cylinder and piston formoving the said plunger, of a valve controlling the admission of steamto the cylinder, a door controlling the opening through which the fuelis advanced by the plunger, a hand lever, connections between said handlever and valve, and connections between said hand lever and fuel doorembodying telescoping members, and a spring for holding said membersextended with a yielding pressure.

8. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a reciprocatory plungerhaving a fuel projecting forward end a door controlling the openingthrough which the fuel is advanced by the plunger and a cylinder andpiston for moving said plunger, of an admission valve contr lling theadmission of steam to opposite ends of the cylinder, connectionsintermediate said valve and plunger, where by the valve is operated, acushion valve for admitting steam to one end of the cylinder, aninclined projection controlled by the plunger for opening said cushionvalve as the plunger a proaches one extreme of its movement an a meanswhereby the door and valve may be manually controlled.

WILLIAM H. STROUSE. l Vitnesses JonN SwAnLmo, W. O. NUGENT.

